Stephen is standing in the young man’s doorway. “Gordon, I think you should come see what’s up with Blackie.” “What do you mean?” “He’s on the armchair in my room and he won’t move.” “Just chase him off if you want him to move.” “No, I mean, he will not move. Just come see.” TheContinue reading “It’s Okay If You Go Home Now”
Tag Archives: Brothers
Secret Weapon
The boy and Stephen are in their first year of Little League Baseball. They each have been given two cardboard boxes of chocolates to sell as a fundraiser. They have also been coached on all the fine points of selling the bars–the Pizza Hut coupon printed on the wrapper around the bar, the options ofContinue reading “Secret Weapon”
It’s Only Hubris if I Fall
They got Susie as a puppy for Peanut to have a friend. She was part beagle and part terrier, and Dad was sort of hoping she would be like Freckles. She isn’t–she grows to be taller and bigger, lacks his intelligence and mischievous nature, and has a different temperament–but she is good-natured, and she adoresContinue reading “It’s Only Hubris if I Fall”
The Russians Are Coming
They are on the swings together at the park up the street, Stephen in the left swing and the boy in the right swing. “MiGs at two o’clock!” the boy yells. “Break right?” They swing higher and harder. “You got one coming around on you, Ice,” says Stephen. “Can you get him, Mav?” says theContinue reading “The Russians Are Coming”
Toby
Ruthanne has a rocking chair in her room, so he sits there. The light is off, though a nightlight partially illuminates the room. He is home from his mission and waiting to go back to BYU. She is seventeen and is trying to keep pace with school, though she has suffered with the Epstein BarrContinue reading “Toby”
The No-Headed Lady
In the 1980s, the legends of both Ted Bundy and Gary Gilmore are alive and fresh in Utah and Salt Lake Counties, so it doesn’t help the boy that his grandmother’s house is insecure, creepy, and haunted. Insecure? The kids all sleep in an unfinished basement where wood scaffolding stands unfinished; the floor is coldContinue reading “The No-Headed Lady”
Get Out of My Room, You Jerks
Their parents are out for their Friday night date. Ruthanne is on the couch knitting, and Stephen and the young man are settling in for the long-awaited confrontation. They have been playing a full season of Super Tecmo Bowl. They each have a team from the NFC and the AFC. Stephen has the Los AngelesContinue reading “Get Out of My Room, You Jerks”
I Will End You
The first team defense is pulled out, and he heads back to the group of players watching the second team. There’s Kevin John, wearing the jv white jersey. “Kevin, you were dicking my brother around in the bathroom yesterday. “Huh? Oh, Stephen said something funny and we were laughing. “No. You had a group ofContinue reading “I Will End You”
An Elegy for Christmas Past
It is 5:42 am Christmas morning when the young man’s bedroom door creaks open and he hears his brother’s voice. “You awake?” “Yeah, bro. Come on in.” “Think I should wake up Ruthanne?” “It’s tradition, right?” Stephen disappears, then reappears a minute later with Ruthanne. “I was up already,” she says. “Just didn’t know ifContinue reading “An Elegy for Christmas Past”
It Is the Gloaming
Camille is not going to make it, no matter how hard she tries. Thunderstorms keep rolling through Houston, Southwest will not finish the final leg to Corpus Christi. She has called several times to explain, the last time in tears. She tells his mother, “I hope he is not waiting for me.” “Let’s do this.Continue reading “It Is the Gloaming”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 